As a world-class university, Temple University must continually invest in and acquire the most up-to-date technology to stay competitive in the academic and research fields. Facing what to do with obsolete equipment and expensive recycling/disposal costs, the University took a hard look at their options. Recognizing that the “obsolete” equipment still had value; and wanting to meet its institutional mission of keeping Temple affordable, they decided they needed to develop a surplus property strategy to maximize that value.

Give & Go Green Program

Temple University has a long history of waste stream diversion. . At Temple University, over 5,200 students relocate each May, leaving behind unwanted clothing, household items and food. Beginning In 2009, the university created a green move-out program, whereby 100% of their collected materials were donated to local non-profits.

This project began in 2014 with a group of 7th grade students from Wayne Highlands School District (WHSD) in Honesdale, PA who wanted to develop a service learning project, as part of their participation in the Lackawanna College’s Environmental Education Program. The group decided on a program that would divert cafeteria food waste from landfills.